Reimagining the future of participation and inclusion at SDG Global Festival of Action

On the 26th March, Positive Impact will host an interactive session on the power of traits stereotypically assigned as ‘feminine’ such as compassion and inclusivity and how that can help us create a compelling future of participation and inclusion.

Exploring the role of women in achieving carbon targets

Positive Impact and UNFCCC Secretariat celebrated International Women’s Day 2021 with a unique exploration into the role of women in achieving carbon targets.

International Women’s Day Roundtable

• Does our gender impact our carbon emissions?

• Is there a specific role for women in achieving carbon targets? 

These are huge and equally interesting questions and the International Women Day Roundtable with Positive Impact & UNFCCC started in March 2021 with an exploration into these questions and what they could mean for the future of the global event sector. 

Today humanity is facing crises of health, economy, inequality and climate. Events, which have a predominantly female workforce, have a vital role to play in addressing these challenges, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and enabling human interaction. 

At this roundtable we discussed the above and how at the upcoming COP 26 conference, it could be announced that the UK event sector has developed a carbon target and reduction framework.

With COP26 on the horizon, a noticeable increase in corporate commitments to reduce carbon emissions, and an event sector ready to build back better after the devastating effects of Covid, now is the perfect time to get curious about the role of women in achieving carbon targets. 

The global event sector is a majority female workplace (A 2017 paper by R Thomas from Leeds Beckett University states women comprise 75% of the events workplace but there is a promotion + pay gap that favours men). So, if there is a correlation between gender and carbon emissions the event sector would be a sector of interest.

Another interesting question is whether it is being the action of a women or a man that causes differing emissions or the use of feminine and masculine traits. For example, are traits such as inclusion, collaboration, care going to cause less emissions than assertiveness, independence are leadership? In other words, will the traits we choose to use (no matter or gender) impact or carbon emissions?

These questions may seem “airy fairy” and of no relevance to the event sector until you consider that the traits we use can directly influence the type of event we have. Put simply, a meeting for independent business leaders is more likely to have meeting logistics including travel, venue, food than a meeting open to all with the purpose of enabling collaboration which is likely to use meeting logistics for an online meeting. 

There is a gap which exists for the event sector to be able to move from being curious about these questions to actually shaping the future of the sector. The gap is having a sector target for carbon emissions and a reduction plan which means the sector is measuring and learning from data. 

It could be that the future of the event sector is one where feminine traits are used with the results of providing jobs for a workforce most significantly impacted by Covid - delivering impactful events with legacy beyond memories of a ‘good meeting’. 

However, until we start measuring, learning from measurement and reducing our emissions this isn’t a conversation the event sector can advance.

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At the roundtable, participants gained:

• The ability to talk to their CEO in strategic and impactful terms.

• Understanding and experience of contributing to UN policies which will impact future strategy of global governments and business.

There was a £15 (approx €17/ $20) registration fee to join, used to fund the creation of the Climate Action framework.  The funding was received and administered by Positive Impact. No funding was allocated to the UNFCCC.

Exploring the power of female leadership and human interaction

A 24 hour exploration for International Women’s Day

Aligned with SDG 5: Gender Equality and #choosetochallenge - the UN Women’s theme for International Women’s Day 2021 , a select community of global corporate event planners joined an experiment to explore the power of female leadership and human interaction.

On Monday 8th March (International Women’s Day) over 24 hours, they took part in facilitated networking, experiments, roundtables with UN bodies and engage with on demand recorded content.

Participants in Explore #3 will gain: 

The ability to talk to their CEOs in strategic and impactful terms.

New ideas of and experiences of practices which could be used at your face to face, virtual or hybrid events to champion gender equality and facilitate human interaction.

Understanding and experience of contributing to UN policies which will impact future strategy of global governments and business.

There is a £250 (approx $320 or €275) overhead per person that we can not avoid. Therefore in addition to the requirement to be a corporate event planner to attend this event there is a minimal administration fee.

View the agenda

Your explorations can happen in 4 formats:

Networking - a chance to meet your fellow explorers and get to interact with them during facilitated networking.

Experiments - join a range of hosts who will be leading YOU through a series of 20-minute interactive experiments exploring what we could #choosetochallenge to enable equality in the event sector.

Roundtables - contribute your ideas to frameworks, policies, white papers and other documents which will be used by United Nations bodies and corporate sustainability leaders. These sessions will be facilitated by high level partners so YOUR voice will be heard.

On Demand - for the times in the 24 hours when you are not networking, exploring or contributing you have the chance to access learning materials which will translate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into practical guidance for event professionals.

Before 8th March, you will be given access to a private LinkedIn event which will guide you through the day’s experiments.

You can find examples of some of the sessions below.

#choosetochallenge sexual harassment at events with Courtney Stanley

Courtney Stanley is recognized globally as an award-winning changemaker, keynote speaker and event emcee, and acclaimed creator of the women-inspired podcast, Dare to Interrupt. Her mission to empower ambitious professionals through vulnerable, meaningful dialogue has resulted in changed behaviors and altered approaches to leadership on stages and in boardrooms throughout North America and internationally.

In this experiment, Courtney invites you to explore what could happen if we lead with empathy and empower ourselves to challenge sexual harassment and misconduct at events.

The Future of Events: The Role of Women in achieving Carbon Targets

Use YOUR voice in a 90-minute roundtable discussion with UNFCCC Secretariat as together we explore:

How at #COP26, it could be announced that the event sector has developed a Climate Action framework to establish quantitative carbon reduction targets.

What the role of women in achieving carbon targets could like.

#choosetochallenge imposter syndrome with Fiona Pelham

Fiona Pelham lives her life as an example of how it is possible to create a lifestyle that works for you and contributes to a world that works for everyone. From choosing her home city based on its action for gender equality to generating income from creating a company recognised as a global leader. 

In this experiment, Fiona invites you to explore getting comfortable with boasting about your achievements and challenging feelings of self-doubt.

Explore is an impactful event series

Don’t take our word for it, hear from previous attendees:

“At Explore, I learnt new and innovative ways of transforming myself and my organisation to connect, alongside providing input into these explorations too. I think being innovative and explorative is important to keep up with the digital pace of the event industry that is highly affected by the Covid 19 situation”

— Elena Staszak, Partner Communication & Event Lead, Microsoft

FAQ

What is the agenda? 

The agenda will continue to be updated until the day before the event and will be found in the LinkedIn event that will be launched before 8th March. You can understand more about the content of the day above. To understand what the Explore #3 agenda will be like, view the Explore #2 agenda. The Explore #3 agenda structure will be similar to this.

Why am I paying £250? 

Positive Impact is a not for profit, this means every penny spent with us is used to make a difference. Following each Explore, a report is created and shared with the wider industry. To understand the exact breakdown of how your registration fee will be spent, watch Bec’s experiment in transparency from Explore #1. 

Will this help me progress my career? 

Yes. Both the content created and how this content is delivered is done with the intention of empowering and enabling you to have a strategic conversation with your CEO so you can demonstrate the value of your role in terms they will understand.

Facilitating a roundtable on how the event sector could #buildbackbetter before COP26

Positive Impact facilitated a #buildbackbetter roundtable with COP26 leaders, UK Government and the UNFCCC on how a climate action framework with quantitative carbon reduction targets and a measurable reduction path could be created before COP26.

Sharing with every MP how the UK event sector can be #builtbackbetter

Fiona Pelham wrote an article in Conference News about the solutions to the economic, environmental, equality and health crises being faced and how the UK event sector could #buildbackbetter. This magazine was delivered to the homes of every UK MP.

Exploring the Future of How Human Interaction Happens

We are living in a time of unprecedented change - we face crises of health, economics, climate and equality. Every company and government in the world are looking for solutions to address these crises.

This report explores how human interaction could be a solution to our global crises by asking the question: What is the Future of How Human Interaction Happens?

This report draws on the findings from a virtual experiment undertaken with 7 senior corporate event planners.

Growing our ambassador community in 2020

In 2020 our ambassadors grew to 1,162 ambassadors, due to the hugely successful 100,000 campaign! Our ambassadors launched this campaign and we provided them a toolkit to be able to tell their communities that they are leading in empowering 100,000 #eventprofs to be in action building the future of how human connection happens.

Talking about carbon targets with AMI magazine

Positive Impact Events CEO Fiona Pelham was a guest on the AMI magazine podcast. She talks about the changes she has seen over that time, how Covid-19 has shifted the narrative on sustainability, why event professionals need to show leadership, and why carbon targets for the meetings and events sector are needed to focus minds.

Exploring what COP26 could mean for the event sector with UNFCCC

Positive Impact joined UNFCCC for a session at IBTM Virtual exploring how the event sector could utilise the COP26 opportunity to #buildbackbetter. This session was shared widely for maximum impact including with the Japanese event sector.

Demonstrating leadership with 100,000 #EventProfs in Action

On the 14th April 2020, the team at Positive Impact found themselves taking unanticipated action due to Covid-19 and launched a campaign without funding.

The campaign provided #eventprofs with the tools required to demonstrate leadership within their communities and use their voice to make a difference. 

This report summarises the Positive Impact campaign to empower 100,000 #eventprofs to be in action building the future of how human connection happens. 

Exploring the Future of How Human Connection Happens

2020 has been a year of unprecedented change - we are facing crises of health, economics, climate and equality. Every company and government in the world is looking for solutions to address these crises.

This report explores how human connection could be a solution to our global crises by asking the question: What is the Future of How Human Connection Happens?

This report draws on the findings from an experiment undertaken with 12 senior corporate event planners.

Exploring the Future of How Human Connection Happens

Positive Impact Events invited 40 senior global corporate event planners to be part of an experiment to explore the future of how human connection happens. Following this event a white paper was produced.

This unique experiment allowed the attendees to explore the following: 

• How events can be used to advance progress towards the SDGs and what this means for the business case of events.

• How Heads of Events can strategically support their CEOs and Heads of Sustainability to advance progress towards the SDGs.

• What is the future of how human connection happens?

Why?

Today humanity is facing crises of health, economic, inequality and climate. Events have a vital role in addressing these challenges, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and enabling human connection. 

Read Laura’s story

How?

On 22nd September 2020, a select group of 40 senior corporate planners joined an experiment to explore human connection.

They were given access to a private LinkedIn group to guide them through the day’s experiments (you can see a snapshot of the agenda below).

The explorations happened in 4 formats:

1. Networking - a chance to meet your fellow explorers and get to connect with them during facilitated networking.

2. Experiments - join world famous dancers, award winning freelancers, teenage activists and more who will be leading YOU through a series of 20-minute experiments so you can experience how human connection happens.

3. Roundtables - contribute your ideas to frameworks, policies, white papers and other documents which will be used by United Nations bodies and corporate sustainability leaders. These sessions will be facilitated by high level partners so YOUR voice will be heard.

4. On Demand - for the times in the 24 hours when you are not networking, exploring or contributing you have the chance to access learning materials which will translate the United Nations Sustainable Development goals into practical guidance for event professionals.

View the synopsis

View the full agenda

When?

22nd September during the UN General Assembly Week and this event was listed as an action during the Global Week to #Act4SDGs.

Who?

Attendees accessed a range of sessions including those delivered by a teenage climate activist, an award-winning freelancer and an internationally reknowned dancer, alongside contributions from the Positive Impac1 Events team. Here are the original session overviews:

An experiment to explore moving

Paul White is an internationally renowned performer and choreographer, and the recipient of numerous prestigious awards for his work in the arts. He is in demand as a moderator, project developer and producer, and is a core worker for a number of non-for-profit foundations in dance and dance film.

In this session, Paul will explore how the language of your body can make a difference, be used to communicate and how this is important in virtual events.

An experiment to explore prioritising

Katy Carlisle has her fingers in a lot of pies. She’s a freelance web designer and trainer, runs an award-winning community for freelancers, co-hosts a podcast, co-founded a software startup and has recently launched an online magazine. Oh, and she plans her days around tide times.

In this session, Katy invites you to explore how you make your day work for you based on what matters most.

Experiments to explore human connection

Fiona Pelham lives her life as an example of how it is possible to create a lifestyle that works for you and contributes to a world that works for everyone. From choosing her home city based on its action for gender equality to generating income from creating a company recognised as a global leader.

Fiona will be leading 2 sessions, in the first Fiona invites you to explore how to build trust quickly and remotely and in the second Fiona invites you to explore the global policies and frameworks which will shape the future of how human connection happens.

An experiment to explore vocalising

Tia is a young person in action, vocalising the future she would like to see in the world. In this session Tia will share her story and explore how using your voice is an action everyone can take.

An experiment to explore transparency

Bec Mitchell is the leader of the small team building the Explore Series from an experimental framework. Her passion, enthusiasm and innovative capabilities have helped bring the Explore Series to life.

In this session, Bec invites you to explore the breakdown of how your money has been spent to create the Explore Series and how this transparency makes you feel.

There was a minimal administration fee of £100 (approx $130 or €110) overhead per person to attend this event.

Supporting innovation and leadership with Messukeskus

Finland’s largest convention centre wins a European event award for their sustainability strategy created with leadership and materials from Positive Impact.

Updating the #shareapositiveimpact toolkit

After Covid-19 significantly impacted the event industry, we updated our free Share a Positive Impact toolkit to include virtual events and emphasise the power of human connection.

Communicating how #eventprofs are in action to #TurnItAround during SDG Action Week

Laura Miller, Manager of Events & Customer Experience at Interface shared with the UN during SDG Action Week on how event professionals are in action to #TurnItAround and progress the SDGs through facilitating participation and inclusion (SDG 16.7.2.) through events.

Enabling Inclusion and Participation in Decision Making with Acceleration Action 2020

Engaging the Global Event Sector in the UN SDGs so that by 2030 we enable inclusion and participation in decision making and human connection is accelerating progress towards the UN SDGs.

In 2019 the United Nations asked for commitments to action to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

This was an opportunity to demonstrate the role of events in achieving the SDGs.

Click on the link below for an update on our 2019 Acceleration Action and our commitment to action for 2020.

Accelerating participation and inclusion (SDG 16.7.2) by using events

Positive Impact submitted an update to our Acceleration Action to ensure inclusion and participation in decision making is enabled and human connection is accelerating progress towards the UN SDGs.

Event industry urged to accelerate its response to climate change

Miguel Naranjo, programme officer at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat, warned that there “would be no events industry” if society fails in facing this challenge.

Promoting the use of business events as a means of addressing the UN SDGs

Fiona Pelham, CEO of Positive Impact Events, talks to The Iceberg about the opportunities available from taking action around sustainability to thrive in the aftermath of COVID-19.

Upskilling over 30 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Offices on sustainability

Positive Impact collaborated with British Embassy Helsinki to create an ISO 20121 toolkit which was shared widely to empower and upskill the FCDO network to be in action on event management sustainability.